Multiple bullet and cartridge mount for forensic microscope

ABSTRACT

A multiple bullet and cartridge holder for use with a forensic microscope has a carriage with a plurality of conventional mounts for bullets and provides rapid interchangability of specimens for examination, improved indexing and improved manipulation.

atent 1 Dec. 25, 1973 MULTIPLE BULLET AND CARTRIDGE MOUNT FOR FORENSIC MICROSCOPE Howard A. Maier, Williamsville,

American Optical Corporation, Southbridge, Mass.

Filed: Feb. 5, 1973 Appl. No.: 329,794

Inventor:

Assignee:

11.8. CI. 86/1 R, 73/167, 89/34 Int. Cl C06b 21/02 Field of Search 73/167; 89/34; 86/1 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,680,966 8/1972 Cofek et al. 73/167 X Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Lechert, .1 r. Attorney-W. C. Nealon et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A multiple bullet and cartridge holder for use with a forensic microscope has a carriage with a plurality of conventional mounts for bullets and provides rapid interchangability of specimens for examination, improved indexing and improved manipulation.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHECZSBIS 3.780.614

FIG.4 FIG.5 FIG.6

MULTIPLE BULLET AND CARTRIDGE MOUNT FOR FORENSIC MICROSCOPE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bullet and cartridge holders for forensic microscopes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bullet and cartridge holder having a carriage carrying a plurality of conventional bullet mounts which provides for a rapid change from one specimen to another or rapid change of carriages without disturbance of the focus, stage or the like.

Conventional bullet holders have been carried by mounts which are in turn fastened to the microscope stage and are adapted to carry a single bullet holder. Conventional mounts for bullets are usually cylinderical and have either a generally conical or generally hemispherical recess in one end. Bullets for examination are temporarily joined to the mount by an adhesive. The bullet and holder are then attached to the mount at the other end. Conventional mounts generally have some means to rotate the bullets about their longitudinal axis in order that the entire peripheral surface of the bullet may be examined and the mounts are usually releasably connected to the microscope stage by a frame. The frame and mount cooperate to permit angular adjustment of the axis of rotation with respect to the optical axis of the microscope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of body and carriage assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body assembly, with the carriage removed, mounted on a conventional forensic bullet holder attachment.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 with the carriage and bullet holders in position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the pin retaining screw.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged side and end views, respectively, of the blade end of the shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE-INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, rectangular body 1 has mounting ball 2 secured to the bottom side thereof and one corner machined off to provide a face 3 at an angle of 45 to the end and top faces. The 45 face 3 has a recess 6 located therein which is adapted to hold demountable carrier 5 by pivot 4 and permit rotation of carrier 5 with pivot 4. The carrier has a peripheral flange 7 secured thereto at an angle of 45 and flange 7 has a plurality of slotted pins 8 rotatably mounted therein and retained by slotted head screws 9. Slotted pins 8 are arranged in flange 7 to permit axial alignment of a selected slotted pin with retractable shaft 10 by manual rotation of carrier 5. Shaft 10 is slidably and rotatably mounted in a generally horizontal hole 11 in the body. A collar 12 on shaft 10 is adapted to rest in the normal position against the end of passage 13 and the collar is located to permit blade 14 on the end of shaft 10 to engage recess 23 in the head of one of screws 9 when in axial alignment with the shaft. Spring 15 urges collar 12 toward its normal position against end of passage 13 and the spring is maintained under compression by externally threaded ring 16. The end of shaft 10 opposite blade 14 extends beyond the body and has knob 17 se- LII cured thereto to assist an operator in retracting or rotating the shaft.

The angle between the pivotal axis of carriage 5 and rotatable axis of one of pins 8 and shaft 10 enables the engagement of shaft 10 with one of screws 9 to releasably attach the carriage to body 1. Manual retraction of shaft 10 disengages blade 14 from the recess of screw 9 and permits the operator to exchange carriages or rotate the carriage 5 for examination of a different bullet. The taper of blade 14 and recess 23 cooperate to accurately position the carriage and selected bullet holder eliminating or significantly reducing the necessity to refocus or re-position each time specimens are changed. Shaft 10 can be manually rotated by means of knob 17 and its engagement with screw 9, causes pin 8 and its respective bullet mount to rotate therewith to permit selection of the peripheral area of the specimen bullet within the microscope field.

FIG. 2 shows body 1, with carrier 5 removed, supported by ball 2 which is retained by clamping member 18 against conventional base 19.

FIG. 3 shows carrier 5 positioned on the body and a bullet mount 20 fitted on each of slotted pins 8. Mirror 21 is attached to arm 22 and adapted to rotate to assist in directing a uniform intensity of light on the bullet (not shown) under examination.

FIG. 4 shows the recess 23 of one of slotted head screws 9 in detail.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the blade portion of the shaft in greater detail.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple bullet holder comprising a body, a rotatable carrier releasably connected to said body, a plurality of bullet holders rotatably connected to said carrier, manually rotatably, manually retractable means adapted to rotate a selected bullet holder, position (index) said carrier and releasably hold said carrier connected to said body.

2. A multiple bullet holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pivot means extending through said carrier, each of said plurality of pivot means being adapted to carry one of said bullet holders and having a recess adapted to cooperate with said manually retractable means.

3. A multiple bullet holder comprising a body, said body having a horizontal journal opening extending therethrough and a cylindrical recess therein, said cylindrical recess having a longitudinal axis intersecting the axis of said journal at an angle of 45, a manually rotatably, axially slidable means extending through said journal, said axially slidable means having a blade at one end, a spring adapted to normally extend the blade of said axially slidable means, a carrier having a pivot adapted to be seated in said cylindrical recess and being manually rotatable about an axis, a plurality of journal openings radially spaced about said carrier, each of said journal openings having a longitudinal axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said carrier at an angle of 45, a plurality of members, each rotatably mounted in one of said journal openings, each of said members having one end adapted to be selectively engaged with said blade and being positioned to permit selective axial alignment with said axially slidable means. 

1. A multiple bullet holder comprising a body, a rotatable carrier releasably connected to said body, a plurality of bullet holders rotatably connected to said carrier, manually rotatably, manually retractable means adapted to rotate a selected bullet holder, position (index) said carrier and releasably hold said carrier connected to said body.
 2. A multiple bullet holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pivot means extending through said carrier, each of said plurality of pivot means being adapted to carry one of said bullet holders and having a recess adapted to cooperate with said manually retractable means.
 3. A multiple bullet holder comprising a body, said body having a horizontal journal opening extending therethrough and a cylindrical recess therein, said cylindrical recess having a longitudinal axis intersecting the axis of said journal at an angle of 45*, a manually rotatably, axially slidable means extending through said journal, said axially slidable means having a blade at one end, a spring adapted to normally extend the blade of said axially slidable means, a carrier having a pivot adapted to be seated in said cylindrical recess and being manually rotatable about an axis, a plurality of journal openings radially spaced about said carrier, each of said journal openings having a longitudinal axis intersecting the axis of rotation of said carrier at an angle of 45*, a plurality of members, each rotatably mounted in one of said journal openings, each of said members having one end adapted to be selectively engaged with said blade and being positioned to permit selective axial alignment with said axially slidable means. 